A Clinico-Epidemiological Study of Facial Hypermelanosis at a Tertiary Care Center in Tamilnadu

Background: Facial hypermelanosis is a common pigmentary disorder, which encompasses a wide spectrum of diseases. Hypermelanosis is of great cosmetic concern causing significant distraction leading on to psychological distress. Sun exposure and photosensitizing agents play an important role in pathogenesis of hypermelanosis. Aim: To study clinicoepidemologic patterns of facial hypermelanosis among various age groups. Methodology: Hundred patients with facial hyperpigmented lesions attending dermatology outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital were to be included in this study. Clinical history regarding age, sex, predisposing factors and detailed clinical examination were to be done in all these patients. Result: Among 100 patients of facial hypermelanosis, melasma was the most common pigmentary skin disorder comprising about 32% of patients,second most common entity was post acne hyperpigmentation (14%). Eleven patients with facial melanosis had drug-induced pigmentation, five had periorbitalhypermelanosis, seven of them had friction-induced melanosis, seborrheicmelanosis was observed in six patients, acanthosisnigricans in five patients, lichen planuspigmentosus in five patients, nevus of ota in three patients, fixed drug eruption in two patients and Addison's disease in 1 patient.